BUSES, taxis and bikes in Oxford are set to be banned from Queen Street next year after a dramatic U-turn by top councillors.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet tonight paved the way for the street to be fully pedestrianised, overruling an earlier decision by transport boss David Nimmo Smith.

It followed warnings that allowing buses to continue using the route when the Westgate Shopping Centre reopened in October would pose a danger to thousands of shoppers.

But bus companies said they were ‘extremely disappointed’ and accused the local authority and others of ‘over-sensationalising’ safety fears.

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Oxford Bus Company managing director Phil Southall, pictured, added: “This decision is not based on evidence.

“It is going to mean a higher volume of buses in surrounding streets and longer distances for passengers to walk.

“If people have a bad experience, they will simply not come by bus next time and instead use a car.”

Mr Southall and Stagecoach Oxfordshire boss Martin Sutton argued the closure could not work until a new area for buses to turn was found.

But Sara Fuge, development manager for the Westgate Oxford Alliance, told councillors allowing buses to use Queen Street when the shopping centre reopened would be ‘dangerous’.

She said: “Our team were really surprised when we found buses were able to use Queen Street. It is not a pleasant space to move through, especially considering you have 100 per cent shops on both sides.

“The worst thing would be for an accident to happen.”

She claimed retailers Debenhams and John Lewis – the latter of which will take flagship a unit in the revamped centre – favoured buses being ‘taken out’ of the street.

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  • A view of what the revamped Westgate will look like from Queen St

During yesterday’s meeting in County Hall, council officers said footfall in Queen Street was expected to rise by 80 to 145 per cent when Westgate reopened.

This amounted to at least 7,300 pedestrians per hour, acting director for environment and economy Bev Hindle said.

He added: “It is very difficult to guarantee a figure but the lowest estimate is 80 per cent.

“It is uncertain how successfully buses can mix with that.”

Mr Hindle said plans for a new turning circle in Worcester Street were still being looked at but would not be ready for next October because of objections from landowner Nuffield College.

Buses would likely have to turn at Frideswide Square instead as a ‘short-term measure’, he added.

But the pedestrianisation plans were also opposed by Oxford’s High Street Business Association, with spokesman Graham Jones saying businesses and colleges, including Christ Church, had ‘grave concerns about cramming more buses’ into neighbouring St Aldate’s and High Street.

Detailed plans for Queen Street’s closure are due next year, with approval needed from the Government.